Date of Award

6-13-2013

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Andrew J. Terzuoli, PhD.

Abstract

Designing and analyzing electrically large reflectors poses numerically complex problems because the reflector must be sampled finely to obtain an accurate solution, causing an unwieldy number of samples. In addition to these complexities, a custom-shaped reflector poses a new analysis problem. Previously developed methods and theorems including Geometric Optics, Ray-Tracing, Surface Equivalence Theorems, Image Theory, and Physical Optics can be applied to these custom-shaped reflectors however. These methods all share in common their capability to provide accurate results in the analysis of electrically large structures. In this thesis, two custom-shaped reflector concepts are explored which include a rectangular shaped, spherically contoured reflector with largest dimension of 305 meters and a cross-shaped, parabolically contoured reflector with largest dimension of 150 meters. Each reflector is intended to operate in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) L-Band. The reflectors produced differing results, but the same methods apply to each. The motivation for pursuing these custom-shaped reflectors is for earth-based and space-based satellite communications respectively. In this thesis, the plane wave analysis and the ray tracing results are presented for each reflector, and the initial feed design results for the cross-shaped reflector are presented.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENG-13-J-08

DTIC Accession Number

ADA584903

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